KiloAlpha

I doubt CHQ will get the flying. CAL would prefer the routes be flown by Q400's and there is no way CHQ will win that bid considering their competition.

freezingflyboy

Ummm...the CAL/CHQ is a done deal. They start flying 44 ERJ as Continental Express in January. As far as the Q400s, I had heard they were going to Commutair and then I heard the deal was no more, so not sure whats up with that.

kansas

Some additions/clarifications to JetJock's list...

Skywest-
Decent pay, good upgrade time, numerous bases. Everyone's top choice. Bases all over the west.

Horizon -
Great pay and work rules, long upgrade. However, you are treated well, and it seems that these guys have been moving on to Alaska quite a bit, meaning it's not necessarily the "career" regional that some make it out to be. Bases DEN and the Northwest.

American Eagle-
Loooong upgrade. Fair pay. Bases all over the map. I'd probably only choose this one if I felt that I needed to live in a particular place (DFW, LAX) that their pilots are based out of.

Pinnacle-
With what's going on at Northwest right now, I'd probably steer clear for a bit, and see what happens.

Big Sky-
Lots of hiring and growth going on right now, with the possibility of opening a BOI base in addition to the BIL base. Upgrade times have been all over the map, and unsure of how many take the leap to the big boys from here.

Chautauqua -
Good upgrade and pay.

Comair -
Time will tell what happens there with DAL. Probably need to stay away for now.

Air Whiskey -
Good pay and good work rules. Rumor has it that they are gearing up for some big growth. They shut down the Wisconsin base a few years ago, which upset the fruit basket a bit.

ExpressJet-
Good pay and work rules, time will tell with the loss off flying to Chautauqua. Most seem to enjoy it there, but again, with the loss of flying, it's a riskier play right now. Bases are the same as Mama Continental's, which is good for making connections with the only hiring legacy carrier at the moment.

Mesa Group: Mesa (Mess-A), Freedom, Go and Air Midwest-
Work rules are poor, pay is bad, and who knows where you'll be based today, let alone next month. Even if you happen to upgrade quickly, it seems that few are able to break through to a major right out of Mesa.

Go Jets-
Jet equipment. Average to below average pay. However, you will be regarded as a scab forever, making the bulk of your airline life a living hell, from commuting to picking up your clearance. Due to this label, it will be tough for these guys to break out of Go Jets to a major, even if they have 4000 turbine PIC. STL base.

Trans States-
Jet equipment. Average pay. Based out of STL. Work rules aren't the greatest.

Colgan-
A quick upgrade. Fair pay. Bases ALL OVER the northeast. Sends a fair amount of folks to the majors.

Commutair-
Quick upgrade. Colgan-like pay. Upgrading to larger turboprops. Also based in the northeast. Not sure on how many guys move on to the majors from here.

Great Lakes-
Historically, the shortest upgrade in the industry. Historically, the worst pay in the industry. Bases in DEN and PHX. If your life situation is able to handle the pay, this isn't such a bad place to be. Sends numerous folks on to majors.

In the end, it comes down to several factors: 1) Pay 2) Location 3) Upgrade 4) Career progression (NOT always the same thing as #3) 4) Stability of the company (anyone's guess). Choose which things are most important to you, and go with what is the best fit.

JetJock16

Becuase of our daily guarentees I continue to Block 85-90 hours a month with pay credits between 95-100. Add it up and you will see that we are second only to Horizon. A few friends of mine on the jet will make mid 40ks in just their second year and I made over 30k my first year on the Bro (Emb-120) and with upgrade in my near future on the Bro my second year should beat that of the Jet. (All numbers include Per Diem)

ONLY Horizon has better pay.

Horizon is a very good airline but they, as others are, restructed by growth. It totally depends on what you want. Quick to PIC TURBINE with good pay at SKW and quicker to SWA, UPS, FedEx or where ever your dreams want to take you. I know for a fact, family friend of mine is a hiring CA at SWA, that SWA likes SKW pilots.

JetJock16

Do your research before you comment! CHQ already has the contract!

David Watts

I love how everyone says that Skywest is the best paid and all of this. I have a friend who works there and he loves it and it sounds like everyone is really nice. Nice bases for the west coast guys and pretty good company, but they are the worst paid 70 and 90 seat pilots flying. Worse than Mesa. So you can say the best EMB120 pay but not RJ.

JoeyMeatballs

Hey Kilo, I am glad you are enthuised about Colgan, word of caution I have been there for 9 months and am excited to leave, don't expect to get there an upgrade in anything less than 2-3 years. There are 110 FO's that need to upgrade before me, I have been there almost a year and they are upgrading maybe 5 a month, if that, and last month 2 that I know of busted their rides, so do that math I have been there almost a year and will have to wait at least another 1 1/2 to 2 years to upgrade, that being said still very quick upgrade, however in the meantime QOL isnt the best, the pay is horrible, (until you upgrade), SAABS a lot of fun, but you will be tired of taxing around LGA fresh out of CAPT IOE with Steering MEL's amongst many other things. I also want to let you know that the 1,000 PIC Turbine, even 2,000 PIC Turbine is not the 100 multi when we were CFI's their isnt 10 capts a month leaving Colgan to go to "major" airlines, we have only had one go to JETBLUE, and he was a check airmen with thousands of hours of PIC TURBINE. One female to SOUTHWEST, one female to UPS and some to CAL, very few though.(obviosuly I could be wrong by a few, but you get the point) A Captain I flew with the other day who has 4,000PIC Turbine was told by Airtrain Peeps, that they want to see "TURBOJET" time. Don't get me wrong I would love to have the 1,000PIC Turbine, no doubt, but take it from me there or other things to consider, becuase unless you have a close buddy at a big airline e.g FEDEX, UPS, CAL, etc........ 2,000PIC Turbine in the SF-340 isnt gonna get you very far, Minimums are just that, minimums, On the other hand, the Guys & Gals at Colgan that I Have come across are amazing people, really good guys and Gals to fly with, just stay far far far far away from a M/X base, (ALB Captains are aweseome awesome guys though) Good luck to you, and enjoy, Its been an amazing experience here!

captainkudzu

No offense, but that is like asking which piece of crap smells the best. Skywest, Horizon, and Air Wisconsin are generally acknowledged to be the best as far as treating their employees. Skywest and Chatauqua will probably upgrade you the quickest.

Having said that, all the regionals seem to stink at this point in time. If you have the flight time, look toward the fractionals.

JustAMushroom

WATTS:

Very good point.

It is a SHAM by managment and the SW pilots were made fools of. The TA said it was just that-TEMPORARY! To get 700's on the property pilots needed to "take one for the team" or United would give the flying to someone else!!!

After 75% of the pilots drank from the koolaid well, agreed to the same payscale (200/700/900)...SURPRISE!!!! THE 700'S WERE ALREADY HERE!!!

Now the TA is not temporary and Brad Holt says.. "we are no longer discussing pay"

The way they get 50% of the pilots to keep drinking from the kool aid well is by telling the FO's they will upgrade w/i 2 years! Growth at any cost! So a new FO...(and almost 1/2 of the senority list at SW is below the 2 year mark) thinks as long as he upgrade it WILL be a pay raise. But it can't go on forever and when the music stops, you are stuck with a SHAM of a payscale.

It's nice being well paid 50 drivers. But as the 900's roll in and the 700's keep coming..what then?

Sorry..I'm not trying to hijack this thread.

Koolaidman

JustAMushroom,

I thought the company offered a pay scale better than ASA's and it was voted down?